Charl is a vocalist and Tony-nominated actor for his portrayal of Smokey Robinson in Motown: The Musical, a role he revived opening the West End Production. He is featured on the Grammy-nominated Original Broadway Cast Album. He has also appeared on Broadway in Jersey Boys & Sister Act. He’s currently touring with his all-Broadway alumn vocal group, The Doowop Project, whose PBS special began airing last summer in local markets all across the United States, as well as his one-man concert show Smokey & Me. a celebration of Smokey Robinson. Charl was last seen on stage as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime at Moonlight Amphitheater for which he was nominated for a San Diego Theatre Critics Award for best performance by a lead actor in a musical. Charl has been seen across the country in renowned theatrical and concert venues such as The Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall and The MUNY, the country’s largest regional theater venue. He has also performed with multiple symphonies in the United States and Canada as well as at The Blue Note in Bejing. TV credits include: Madam Secretary, FBI, and Evil (CBS).

Taylor C. Collier is a native of Washington, D.C., where she trained with Dance Institute of Washington and the Washington School of Ballet. She has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Ron K. Brown, Showboat at San Francisco Opera, "Come Through" with Bon Iver, and Guys and Dolls at the Guthrie Theater.

Darius de Haas is thrilled to celebrate Billy Strayhorn, a composer whose music he has sung for over 20 years. His theater credits include Broadway: Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Carousel, Rent, The Gershwin’s Fascinating Rhythm, Marie Christine, and Shuffle Along. Other notable shows include As You Like It, Running Man (Obie Award), and Children of Eden. Recent TV/Film credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (singing voice of Shy Baldwin) on Amazon Prime and the upcoming Mother May I Have A Kidney. An acclaimed concert and recording artist, he has performed concerts for, among others, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and The Boston Pops as well as many venues across the US and abroad. His recordings include “Day Dream: Variations on Strayhorn,” “Quiet Please,” and many Original Cast Recordings and soundtracks. Darius is a founding member of Black Theatre United. www.dariusdehaas.com

Tracy, originally from New Jersey, graduated from Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance Performance. He is so excited to be making his Pittsburgh Public Theater debut as a part of this production!

 

Joseph was last seen in LPPAC’s The Play That Goes Wrong (Trevor u/s), CLO’s production of A Musical Christmas Carol as Choirmaster/Caroler, and Ed in Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s Evil Dead: The Musical. Other recent credits include: Schroder in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (CLO), Gator in Memphis (LPPAC), and Andre Swing in Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Westchester Broadway Theater). Joseph would like to thank the cast, crew, and team for letting him be a part of this production! He is a proud graduate of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (Class of 2009).

Keziah is a proud graduate of NYU Tisch’s New Studio and Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She is currently in the cast of The Book on Broadway. As a singer, songwriter, and rapper, she performs with her band, The Blackstarz, in New York City. Favorite roles: The Wild Party (Kate), Broadway at the White House (Ensemble), The Seven (DJ). With an abundance of love to Mom, family, friends and teachers, she’s thrilled to be working with this genius creative team on Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For.

RICHARD McBRIDE is beyond grateful to be back on the Pittsburgh Public Theater stage . Richard was most recently seen in Pittsburgh Public Theater’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, and before that in A Raisin in the Sun. Richard is thrilled to bring Strayhorn back to Pittsburgh!

Joseph McGranaghan is a Pittsburgh-based artist and educator. Recent Pittsburgh credits include Shantytown (Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co.), The Cherry Orchard (Quantum) and Barefoot in the Park (Pittsburgh Public Theater). New York: LaMama ETC, Mabou Mines, SITI Company, Magis Theatre, Hudson Warehouse, Storm Theatre, Workshop Theatre Company and Fault Line Theatre. Regional: Asolo Rep, Baltimore Center Stage, Clarence Brown Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Lantern Theatre, Centenary Stage Company and others. T.V./Film: Mayor of Kingstown, American Rust, Liberte: A Call to Spy, Hack My Life, The Lucky 6.

Past productions include: Octet (Signature Theater and Berkeley Rep), Malvolio (Classical Theater of Harlem), black oddyssey (CalShakes), Jelly’s Last Jam (Alliance Theater), X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation (The Acting Company), Venice (N.Y. Public Theater), A Civil War Christmas (New York Theater Workshop), Les Miserables (Broadway Revival Original Cast), The Winter’s Tale (Dallas Theater Center Public Works). T.V./Film: Godfather of Harlem, Shameless, Law and Order: SVU, Madam Secretary, The Snare. Training: Carnegie Mellon University.

Arielle Roberts is delighted to be making her debut with Pittsburgh Public Theater. Recent credits include Oli in Come See About Me (Cedar Fair Entertainment), and Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors (Artisan Center Theatre). BFA Acting - TCU. LINK Class 5. She sends endless love to Joel and Ann-Mary. arielleroberts.com

Saige Smith is thrilled to make history with this production! Recent credits include: Hamlet with Quantum Theatre, Steel Magnolias, A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Harlem, Murder on the Orient Express with Pittsburgh Public Theater, Clyde’s with City Theatre, and Sister Act, Puffs, Kinky Boots at Pittsburgh CLO. (PPU MT ‘18)